Ski jumping speaks German: Led by Stefan Kraft and Andreas Wellinger, Austria and Germany dominate – in keeping with the approaching tour.
In the 1980s there was the New German Wave band “DÖF”: “DÖF” stood for German-Austrian sensibility and, among other things, scored a hit with “Codo… spritz im Sausetritt.” With great sensitivity and at a brisk pace, German and Austrian ski jumpers are racing onto the podium in this still young World Cup season.
There have been twelve podium places so far, all of which went to either Austria (7) or Germany (5). “The German language is setting the tone at the moment.”said former world champion Severin Freund on the ZDF microphone about the unusual dominance. And not only that: all fourth and three fifth places also went to the two countries, only the Japanese Ryoyu Kobayashi was able to break into the phalanx a little in fifth place in Lillehammer.
In the overall World Cup, the Austrian Stefan Kraft is ahead of Andreas Wellinger, Pius Paschke (DSV), Jan Hörl, Daniel Tschofenig (both ÖSV), Stephan Leyhe and Karl Geiger (both DSV). Last year’s overall winner Halvor Egner Granerud is a distant 17th. In the national rankings, Austria (981 points) and Germany (913) are miles ahead of third-place team world champion Slovenia (319).
“Once it works, it works”
“When things go well in ski jumping, they work“, said national coach Stefan Horngacher. From a German perspective, things are going really well in particular: Andreas Wellinger impressed in Lillehammer with two second places. “We currently have an extremely strong team, it’s a lot of fun”said the Bavarian. After four competitions this season, Wellinger already has three podium places.
But one thing outshines everything: Stefan Kraft won four times in the first four competitions. “Second behind Stefan, more is not possible at the moment“, stated Horngacher.
Successful start to the winter
Nevertheless, the national coach can be satisfied with his team’s performance so far. After four competitions, the DSV Eagles have already collected five podium places – there have never been more in the history of the World Cup at this point. In the entire past winter there were only eight.
What Horngacher was particularly pleased about was that the strong start in Kuusamo wasn’t a flash in the pan. “That was important. Of course, expectations increase, and the errors usually increase too. I’m very happy, the boys are sorted.”said the Austrian.
The German-Austrian dominance in the first competitions is increasing the anticipation in this country and in the Alpine republic for the Four Hills Tournament, which begins on December 29th. The opening competition in Oberstdorf is already sold out.